Saw it today. It's out and out Big Amitabh Bachchan, as hero, film. All other are villains one way or other, one time or another.

Opening CC showed film length of aprox 4600 meters (4595 m or so) and the screening sure was 148m min (& hence un-cut/ not revised). I can't understand what the controversies are and why "Dalits or Reservations class" are protesting. If anything the film promotes their cause, and very effectively too. But that was only during the first half or one third of the film. Later on it's Corrupt Rich & Powerful vs Underdog and the main "reservations vs merrit" issue theme is forgotten.

I'd rate it equal to Three Idiots. Three Idiots was mostly fun film where as this one is serious, hard hitting and emotional.

And forgot to mention that finally we got a villain that did stand up to Big AB. Manoj Bajpaaii. (Sure he was villain in some other AB movies as well, but in Aarakshan, he sure stood up to AB.

BTW, don't like the pure Hindi/ Sanskrit name Aarakshan. It's causing hilarious/ embarrassing situations at some ticket windows.
What's the Hindustani/ Urdu/ Simple-Hindi word for Reservation ??